Thank you so much for all the kind messages of support after my recent loss. I’m still in a very weird space but always remembering happier times. Today’s main photo for the London Kids Weekend Scoop shows my mum and I, back when I was still her babe about town.
Both my parents had a lifelong love of the arts and on both sides of my very large extended family we keep producing writers, artists, musicians, models, fashion designers, chefs, media personalities and more.
I remember going to see my first West End show – Bubbling Brown Sugar – with my mum when I was only three years old. It had a huge impact on me, as did watching Shakespeare at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre with Mummy when I was a bit older. And countless other events, from It’s a Small World at Disney World to live recordings of a kids’ TV show named Tortoise Club back in our hometown of Enugu.
I’m proud to share my parents’ passion for culture and creativity: I love discovering and telling you about all the wonderful things happening in this great city. This weekend’s another beauty. Make the most of it with your little ones.
Thu-Sun: Little Angel Theatre: The Paper Dolls, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Another enchanting puppet performance, adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson. A little girl cuts out paper dolls that take her on a magical adventure featuring a toy dinosaur, an oven-glove crocodile, and a boy with very real scissors! For ages 3 to 7. Babies and children under 3 welcome at Baby Friendly performances (mostly Thursday 10.30, Saturday 11am and Sunday 11am – check diary). 10.30am & 1pm (Wed-Thu), 1pm & 5pm (Fri), 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm (Sat-Sun); adult £12 / child £10, Friday Fives £5 for 5pm shows on Friday (until Jun 28)
Thu-Sun: Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
This was one of my all-time favourite films as a child and its big stage adaptation does the original absolutely proud (full review coming soon). Fat Sam’s Grand Slam hits Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in a spectacular production of Alan Parker’s musical. Join Bugsy, Blousey and Talullah on a familiar caper filled with fab tunes and splurge guns. For ages 6+. 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £15-£40 (until Aug 1)
Fri: Classical Babies Family Concert: Italian Arias with Villa Pia!, O2 Centre (upstairs past Gymboree & turn left), 255 Finchley Rd, NW3 6LU (Finchley Rd tube/Finchley Rd & Frognal overground)
Come with your babes for an early afternoon concert hosted by Classical Babies in association with the wonderfully family friendly holiday rental Villa Pia (our lovely Mothers & Shakers client). There will be a performance from Italian soprano Caroline Kennedy and her accompanist, as well as a chance to learn more about the award winning villa in Tuscany, plus discount vouchers for attendees. Guests can also enjoy light refreshments and goodie bags after the concert. For ages 0-3 and carers. 11am, FREE (May 8)
Sat: Morgan and West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular magic Show for Kids (and Childish Grownups) at Udderbelly, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Well if the title doesn’t grab you, I don’t know what will! Zany magicians present a show of tricks, tomfoolery and mind bending illusion that’s guaranteed to dazzle, and tickle, anyone from ages 5 to 105. 4.15pm, from £11 (May 9)
Sat: May in a Day at Cecil Sharpe House 2 Regent’s Park Rd, NW1 7AY (Camden Town tube)
The annual folk festival this year combines English and Brazilian folklore traditions, theming the day around ‘The ‘Oss & The Ox’, a colourful participatory dance and music piece. There’ll also be Ceilidh and maypole dancing to a live band, as well as percussion workshops, making headdresses and masks, stories and live music for all the family. All ages. 2-5pm, adult £7/child under 18 £5/family of 4 £20/under 2s FREE (May 9)
Sat: Everyman Cinema Kids Club: Tinkerbell and the Legend of the NeverBeast at Screen on the Green, 83 Upper St, Islington Green, N1 0NP (Angel tube)
Tinkerbell and her buddies are concerned about their fairy friend Fawn who has befriended a strange creature, the NeverBeast. While the elite Scout Fairies set out to capture the beast, Fawn must trust her heart and rally her friends to help protect the misunderstood beast. Enjoy a Saturday morning picture show in the luxury of Everyman Cinema’s cosy seats, with popcorn and bar available. All ages. Also screening at Belsize Park and Maida Vale venues. 10am, adult + child £5 (May 9)
Sat-Sun: Imperial Festival at Imperial College, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ, UK (South Kensington tube)
Babes and boffins come together at this celebration of the best in science and arts from Imperial. Family friendly activities include playing jenga with a robot, becoming a doctor for a day, creating your own interactive family tree and using light as a paintbrush to create vivid works of art. Tons of stuff to explore, so get down there! All ages. All day, FREE (May 9-10)
Sun: Urban Village Fete, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square. Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail).
The brand new family fete in Greenwich celebrates the best in urban design, fashion, arts, food and music. Come along for storytelling workshops with House of Fairytales, DJ sessions with Gilles Peterson and special guests from the top of a Routemaster bus, textile and craft stalls, yummy street food, photography tours for kids with Toddle in the City, dance and live performance and much much more. Sounds like a cracking day out! All ages. 12-7pm, FREE (May 10)
Don’t miss this enchanting interview with House of Fairytales creative director Deborah Curtis!
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish ‘Goes Wild’ with Camp Bestival, Shapes in Hackney Wick, 117 Wallis Rd E9 5LN (Hackney Wick Overground)
Wild out with DJs James Tec (Plex) and Matt Sanger (Bestival) as they get us in the mood for festival season with this special Camp Bestival edition of the friendly family rave. The party for small people and their grown up misbehavers features all the usual extras: craft area, colouring mural, play tents/tunnels, baby space with soft mats and ball pool, homemade food and cake stall, free glowsticks and transfer tattoos, parachute dance, glitter cannons and bubble machine plus free Happy Monkey smoothies and Bear nibbles to take home. Fancy dress theme is ‘as wild as you like’ and Tell Tails will be loaning out their animal tails for your mini beasts. 2.30pm-5pm, adult £8 adv, £10 door (cash only)/child £4.50 adv, £5 door/prewalkers FREE (May 10)
Sun: Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival at St Paul’s Church, Bedford St, WC2E 9ED (Covent Garden tube)
It’s that time of year again to celebrate Mr Punch’s birthday at the May Fayre and Puppet Festival. Punch and Judy professors and fans come and parade in Covent Garden and put on puppet theatre performances. Colourful and nostalgic for grown-ups, lots of fun for little ones too. All ages. All day, FREE (May 10)
We also like
It’s all sold out this weekend but book ahead for Unicorn Theatre Planet Ka, a sensory show for ages 1-3 (until Jun 4); follow a polar bear puppet on The Journey Home at Stratford Circus (Sat); find a furry friend at the London Pet Show at ExCel London (Sat-Sun); enjoy a festive afternoon tea at the VE Day Tea Room at Imperial War Museum to celebrate 70 years since the end of WW1 (Fri-Sun)
Yesterday I lost my mother
Another fab round-up – I always love your round-ups as you know because I find not one, not two, not three but so many things I want to go to as a family. But today it’s all about that pic for me. Those cheeks! And the circle of life. My mum is a real arts and culture fan and my dad used to enjoyed it enough and that meant we were exposed to a lot of it at a very young age. I can’t say I loved it all but I’m happy to say that my parents dragged me to a Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli concert which is still a huge highlight of my life. We get so many things from our parents and a lot of the time we don’t even realise it until we reflect. Lots of happy memories is what we are left with and that is special. Lots of love and hugs xx
Oh wow! That concert sounds AMAZING Nomita, what a treat! My dad was a huge fan of all the jazz and ‘easy listening’ greats and that rubbed off on my tastes too. I’ve seen so many artists I love but always would love to zip back in time and see the likes of Billie Holiday or Nat King Cole live.
Yes it’s amazing all the ‘silent inheritances’ we get from our mums and dads. With the babes, I consider they’re getting an immersive education as I drag them all over town from this activity to that. Sure they won’t remember half of it, but most times it’s just the spending time together sharing something special that matters isn’t it? And actually as you can see they’re becoming quite the little critics. It’s so important to have and keep making those memories. Thanks so much for the love and hugs, sending some back to you xoxo